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Walthall County, Mississippi

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
66th of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$7Mexpected losses a year
27federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Walthall County, Mississippi has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 74% of US counties. It ranks 66th of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $7.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $506 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 42 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.9 million on 233 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Walthall County

$2.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low26.3
$3M
HurricaneLow79.6
$1M
Strong windModerate81.6
$1M
TornadoLow36.1
$589K
Heat waveLow51.8
$334K
Cold waveLow29.0
$320K
HailLow43.9
$170K
DroughtLow51.7
$133K
LightningLow36.0
$113K
WildfireLow66.7
$110K
EarthquakeVery Low34.4
$87K
Ice stormLow37.7
$39K
Winter weatherVery Low19.7
$14K
LandslideVery Low31.4
$281

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Walthall County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane13
Severe Storm8
Flood2
Winter Storm2
Snowstorm1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 22, 2021Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2021Hurricane IdaEmergency
May 4, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Oct 8, 2020Hurricane DeltaEmergency
Sep 14, 2020Hurricane SallyEmergency
Aug 23, 2020Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm LauraEmergency
Apr 16, 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 27
Mar 25, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2012Hurricane IsaacMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2012Tropical Storm IsaacEmergency
May 12, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 22, 2008Hurricane GustavMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Apr 24, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, FloodsMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2001Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 28, 1998Hurricane GeorgesEmergency
Feb 28, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 16, 1983Severe Storms, Flooding & TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 19, 1980Storms, Flood, Mudslides & TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 22, 1977Drought & FreezingEmergency
Jan 19, 1972Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 18, 1969Hurricane CamilleMajor disaster

Mississippi also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 204 storm reports in Walthall County since 1957, with 9 deaths and 23 injuries and about $14.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on March 15, 2025 near Kioto.

37tornadoes
44hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
113damaging thunderstorm winds
9floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 15, 2025EF4Kioto8 / 3
Apr 12, 2020EF4Enon0 / 2
Mar 15, 2025EF3Lexie0 / 1
Nov 15, 2006F2Flowers1 / 0
Apr 6, 2005F2Dinan0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 15, 2025TornadoKioto$5M
Mar 15, 2025TornadoLexie$5M
Mar 10, 2016Flash FloodDillon$1M
Nov 15, 2006TornadoFlowers$500K
Apr 6, 2005TornadoDinan$300K
Nov 18, 1957Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 6, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1855, 11 hurricanes and 32 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Walthall County, 19 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Camille (1969), with top winds near 160 mph about 63 miles away.

11hurricanes
2major hurricanes (Category 3+)
32tropical storms
2024most recent: Francine

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1969CamilleCategory 5, 160 mph63 mi
Aug 29, 2005KatrinaCategory 3, 115 mph64 mi
Sep 2, 1985ElenaCategory 2, 105 mph62 mi
Sep 16, 1855UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph64 mi
Oct 29, 2020ZetaCategory 1, 95 mph51 mi
Sep 1, 1879UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 12, 2024FrancineTropical storm, 55 mph59 mi
Aug 30, 2021IdaCategory 1, 85 mph61 mi
Jun 19, 2021ClaudetteTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Oct 29, 2020ZetaCategory 1, 95 mph51 mi
Jun 8, 2020CristobalTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Sep 5, 2018GordonTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Walthall County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (42 policies)
11.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.9 millionpaid on 233 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $602,075 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Walthall County

$126,600median home value (Mississippi $169,800, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Mississippi 1986, US 1980)
47%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
27.8%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 6,917 housing units.

Compare in Mississippi

All 82 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Hinds CountyModerateInland flooding
Harrison CountyHighHurricane
DeSoto CountyModerateEarthquake
Rankin CountyModerateInland flooding
Jackson CountyModerateHurricane
Madison CountyModerateInland flooding
Lee CountyModerateInland flooding
Forrest CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Washington Parish, LAModerate39
Pike CountyLow32
Lincoln CountyLow30
Marion CountyLow35
Lawrence CountyVery Low31

Common questions about Walthall County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Walthall County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Walthall County, about $2.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Walthall County had?

Walthall County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Walthall County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 66th highest of 82 in Mississippi. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Walthall County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Walthall County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Walthall County had?

NOAA records list 37 tornadoes in Walthall County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on March 15, 2025 near Kioto. The weather service has also logged 44 hail reports and 9 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Walthall County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 11 hurricanes and 32 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Walthall County, including 2 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Camille (1969), with winds near 160 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.